Locking mechanisms for well devices



2 Sheets-Sheet l H. B. scHRAMM LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR WELL DEVICES 6 New my sept. 21, 1965 Original Filed Dec. 19. 1955 Sept. 21, 1965 H. B. scHRAMM LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR WELL DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 19, 1955 Firg.9

nvm/TOR. Harry B. Schramm Mar M ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,207,224 LUCKING MECHANISMS FGR WELL DEVICES Harry B. Schramm, Dallas, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Otis Engineering Corporation, Dalias County, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Original application Dec. 19, 1955, Ser. No. 553,836. Divided and this application Nov. '19, '1962, Ser. No. 243,694

7 Claims. (Cl. 166--217) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in locking mechanisms for Well devices. This application is a division of 'applicants copending application, Serial No. 553,836, filed December 19, 1955, now abandoned.

Various types of removable `sub-surface carrier and locking devices have been used for supporting and removably positioning sub-surface flow control and safety devices in deep, high-pressure oil and gas wells. These devices .are adapted to be lowered into and removed from the well bore or fiow conductor, and positioned therein by means of a suitable running and pulling mechanism lowerable in the well on a small ilexible steel measuring line or the like. It has commonly been the practice, in the past, to use as anchoring elements or locking elements on such devices a plurality of separated and separately movable expansible members, such as dogs, keys or the like, which are Isuspended from 1a common carrier or project outwardly through apertures in a carrier sleeve or the like, and which are moved into locking position by a wedge or other locking member inserted between the movable elements to spread the same and provide a plurality of shoulders having a combined diameter greater than that of the `downwardly facing locking shoulder against which they engage to hold the well device in place in the well pipe. In many cases, the expander member must be moved downwardly with respect to the expansible anchoring elements or dogs before the dogs .can be moved to a retracted position permitting them to be withdrawn from the landing nipple. Sometimes, accumulations of sand, corrosion or other extraneous matter cause the anchoring elements to become stuck in expanded position and result in an extremely difficult job of removing the well device from a position in the well. Furthermore, the manufacture of the separate anchoring elements and the carrier therefore requires greater expense, since a longer time is required to miachine the separate elements. Also, the elements are sometimes subjected to strain which they are not capable of withstanding, or corrosion or erosion will wear off the supporting member connecting the element to the carrier or retaining it in place on the carrier so that the element cannot be moved from exanded to retracted position and the well device is so locked in place in the well that it is necessary to remove the tubing from its position in the well in order to remove the well device from the flow conductor.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved removable carrier and locking device adapted to be lowered into a well ow conductor and locked in place therein for supporting a well flow control or safety device in the well, or for use in performing other well operations.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified locking mechanism for locking and unlocking a carrier in place in a well ow conductor, whereby positioning and releasing of the well device in the conductor is simplified and positive operation assured.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved docking mechanism of the character described wherein the locking mechanism is releasable `from locking position by a straight upward pull on the device to `assure removal thereof; such structure providing for use of retrieving devices which are operated in response to uid pressure from within the well and therefore move upwardly out of the well.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved carrier and locking mechanism wherein the locking element may be positively freed from locking position for movement to releasing position to permit the mechanism to be withdrawn from within a well flow conn ductor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism of the character desoribed which is extremely simple in structure and operation, which has few parts which are positive in operation and which may be positively removed to freed position.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the .accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a carrier and locking mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same being lowered into a landing nipple,

FIGURE 2 is a view of the device of FIGURE l, showing the same locked in place in the nipple,

FIGURE 3 is a view of the device of FIGURE l, showing the locking mechanism freed from locking position and in released removing position,

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of .a slightly modied form of carrier and locking mechanism and showing the same being moved into position in a ow conductor,

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the carrier and locking mechanism in locked position in the ow conductor.

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6,

FIGURE 8 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a slightly modied form of the device of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 9 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a further modied form of carrier and locking mechanism and showing the same anchored in place in a landing nipple,

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9,

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged isometric view of the locking elements of the device of FIGURE 9,

FIGURE l2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, of a still further modication of the carrier and locking mechanism, and showing the same locked in place in ia landing nipple, and,

FIGURE 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

In the drawings, the numeral 15 designates an elongate cylindrical housing or landing nipple having external screw threads 16 at each end, whereby the nipple may be connected in a well flow conductor by means of couplings 17 threaded onto the ends of the nipple and to the ends of adjacent sections of a string of tubing or well ow conductor 18. While the device is described as being connected in .a well iiow conductor or tubing string, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to such use, but that the device may also be used in drill pipe, drill stems, casing or the like.

The nipple has a longitudinal bore 20 which is enlarged intermediate the ends of the nipple to provide an internal annular locking recess 21 therein having a downwardly facing lock shoulder 22 at its upper end and an upwardly facing stop shoulder 23 at its lower end. The bore of the nipple below the stop shoulder 23 is reduced slightly in diameter so that the shoulder 23 projects further into the bore of the nipple than the downwardly facing lock shoulder 22 and therefore provides an upwardly facing positive stop shoulder in the nipple.

A carrier and locking device C includes a body member 25 having an elongate neck or inner mandrel 26 axially aligned with and extending upwardly from the upper end of .the body. Bot-h the body and the mandrel are provided with longitudinal axial bores communicating with each other so as to form a substantially continuous bore through the element. The mandrel 26 is `shown as threadedly connected to the body member by means of screw threads 27 formed on the lower end of .the mandrel and threaded into corresponding threads in the upper end of the bore of the body 25. The elongate neck member or mandrel 26 has at its upper end an external annular retaining tlange or head 28, and lan expander and locking sleeve member 30 is slidably positioned on the neck member and confined on the neck member between the lower end of the head 2S and the upper end of the body 25. The length of the sleeve is such that the sleeve may undergo a limited longitudinal movement on the neck member or mandrel between the body member and the head at the upper end of the mandrel. A locking member or ring 33 having an eccentric bore 34, best shown in FIGURE 4, is also mounted on Ithe inner mandrel or neck member 26 and is movable longitudinally thereon. The bore of the locking member or ring is such that it will pass over the lower portion of the locking sleeve 3), so as to be slidable on the lower portion of said locking sleeve.

The locking sleeve has an external annular stop flange 31 intermediate its ends, and the external diameter of the sleeve below the stop flange is reduced in substantially mid-portion to provide an external annular groove 32 on such lower portion for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully explained. The locking sleeve is initially and normally releasably held in lowermost position on the mandrel 26, with the lower end of locking sleeve engaging the upper end of the body 25, as shown in FIGURE l, by a plurality of shear pins 35 which extend through apertures formed in an external annular retreiving ange 36 on the upper end of the locking sleeve and into corresponding apertures formed in the wall of the mandrel 26.

The locking ring 33 is slidable on the lower portion of the locking sleeve 36 between the upper end of the body 25 and the lower end of a helical coiled spring 38 mounted exteriorly of the lower portion of the locking member and engaging the under side of the external annular flange 31 of the locking sleeve, whereby the spring acts upon the ring to bias the same downwardly into engagement with the upwardly facing stop shoulder 39 provided by the upper end of the body 25 and surrounding the neck or inner mandrel 26. The lock ring may move upwardly to the position shown in FIGURE l, where it is in alignment with the external annular groove 32 formed in the midportion of the lower portion of the locking sleeve and the thicker portion of the ring may thus enter the groove to permit the ring to pass downwardly through the bore 20 of the landing nipple 15.

The body 25 has its upper portion enlarged in diameter to provide the upwardly facing stop shoulder 39 at its upper end surrounding the lower end of the neck member or mandrel 26, and this stop shoulder 39 is adapted to be engaged by the lower end of the locking sleeve 30 and by the locking ring 33 to limit downward movement of the same for purposes which will be hereinafter more fully described.

A downwardly facing stop shoulder 40 is formed exteriorly of the body member at the lower end of the enlarged upper portion of the body, and this downwardly facing stop shoulder 40 is adapted to engage the upwardly facing seat or stop shoulder 23 in the bore of the landl ing nipple to limit downward movement of the carrier and locking device C through the landing nipple, in the manner shown in FIGURE 2.

When the downwardly facing stop shoulder 40 on the body engages the upwardly facing stop shoulder 23 in the landing nipple, the locking ring 33 is positioned within the internal annular groove 21 in the landing nipple 15, and the ring may move downwardly on the locking sleeve 30 until it engages the upwardly facing shoulder 39vat the upper end of the body, whereupon further downward movement of the locking ring on the mandrel is positively stopped. Due to the eccentric bore 34 in the ring, which engages rather closely over the external cylindrical locking surface 42 at the lower end of the locking sleeve 30, the ring is displaced laterally with respect to the body and inner mandrel 26 so that a portion of its periphery is disposed beneath the downwardly facing lock shoulder 22 at the upper end of the recess 21 in the nipple. Since the bore 34 of the locking ring has a rather snug but freesliding t on the cylindrical locking surface 42 at the lower end of the locking sleeve, the ring is positively held in this laterally displaced position by such engagement, and when the carrier and locking assembly C moves upwardly relative to the nipple 15 the external annular beveled shoulder 45 at the upper outer edge of the locking ring will engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 22 in the recess in the nipple and further upward movement of the carrier and locking assembly will be positively prevented.

The body member 25 may be provided with an external annular sealing or packing assembly 5t) comprising, for example, a plurality of substantially inverted V-shaped sealing rings held in place on the reduced lower sealing portion 51 of the body member by means of a packing lock nut 52 threaded onto the externally screw-threaded lower end of said body. Obviously, if desired, any suitable well ow control or safety device, or any other suitable desirable well tool may be threaded onto the threaded lower end of the body member below the packing lock nut 52, whereby the carrier and locking assembly C will support such tool or device in the well conductor or tubing or the like at the position determined by the location of the landing nipple 15 in said flow conductor or the like.

The carrier and locking device C may be simply dropped through the tubing string into place in the nipple, or it may be inserted into and locked in the landing nipple by means of a suitable running tool 55 connected to the lower end of a suitable raising and lowering mechanism by means of which the device may be lowered into and removed from the well bore. The running tool has in its lower end a socket 56 into which the head 28 at the upper end of the inner mandrel 26 is engaged and held in place by means of a pair of pins or shear members 57 extending through suitable apertures or holes formed in the running tool and engaging in substantially tangential grooves formed in the periphery of the cylindrical surface of the head. When the carrier and locking device C has been lowered in place in the landing nipple and the locking ring 33 is positioned to engage the lock shoulder 22 1n the nipple, the running tool 55 is lifted until further upward movement of the carrier and locking mechanism is stopped, whereupon application of an upward force to the running tool will shear the pins 57 to disconnect the running tool from the carrier and locking mechanism and leave said carrier and locking mechanism anchored in place 1n the landing nipple. Downwardly acting fluid pressure may move the carrier and locking mechanism downwardly only until the stop shoulder 40 on the body engages the upwardly facing stop shoulder 23 in the groove in the landing nipple, and upwardly acting Huid pressure may move the carrier and locking mechanism upwardly only until the locking ring 33 engages the locking shoulder 22 in the nipple. Thus, the carrier and lockmg mechanism is positively securely locked in place in the landing nipple in the well bore.

To remove the carrier and locking mechanism from its anchored position in the landing nipple, a suitable retrieving tool 60 having a plurality of resiliently mounted hook members 61 carried thereby is lowered into the well fiow conductor or tubing until the inturned hooklike catch members 62 at the lower ends of the hook members engage under the retrieving ange 36 at the upper end of the locking sleeve 30. With the hook members so engaged with the locking sleeve, upward force applied to the retrieving tool will shear the pins 35 and move the sleeve longitudinally upwardly on the inner mandrel or neck 26 to substantially the position shown in FIGURE 3. In this position, the lower end of the locking sleeve 30 is positioned above the upper end of the locking ring 33, the locking surface 42 on the lower end of the sleeve being moved out of the bore 34 of the locking ring. Thus, the locking ring may move laterally relative to the mandrel 26 to the position shown in FIGURE 3, wherein the lock shoulder 45 of the ring will readily pass the lock shoulder 22 in the nipple and the device may be easily removed from the nipple and upwardly from the well bore. The camming action provided by the lock shoulder 22 and the beveled shoulder 45 on the lock ring assures lateral displacement of the locking ring to the freed or releasing position, and there is adequate space provided in the bore of the ring for such movement to permit the ring to move to such position, whereby the device may be removed readily from the well bore.

It will particularly be noted that the carrier and locking device is readily removable from the landing nipple by a straight upward pull applied to the locking sleeve.

A modified form of carrier and locking device C is illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 7, wherein the locking ring 71 is provided with a concentric axial bore 72, and the locking sleeve 74 is provided with an offset or eccentric external cylindrical locking surface 75 which is adapted to enter the bore 72 of the locking ring and move the ring laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the well device to position the upwardly facing beveled lock shoulder 73 of the locking ring in a laterally projecting position disposed to engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 77 provided by the lower end of a length of well ow conductor 78 connected to the sealing nipple 79, as clearly shown in FIGURE 6. All other parts and structure of the carrier and locking mechanism remain the same as the form first described and bear the same identifying numerals.

The landing and sealing nipple 79 has a longitudinal bore 80 provided with internal threads at its upper end whereby it may be connected to the lower end of a length of tubing or conductor 78 in which the device is to be used. The bore Sti yof the landing nipple is reduced in its lower portion to provide an upwardly facing stop shoulder 81 spaced below the lower end 77 of the length of tubing, whereby an internal annular recess is formed in the bore of the nipple between the downwardly facing lock shoulder 77 formed by the lower end of the tubing and the upwardly facing stop shoulder 81 formed at the upper end of the reduced lower portion of the bore of the landing nipple. The packing 50 of the carrier and locking device will seat in the reduced lower portion of the bore of the nipple in the same manner as in the previous form, and the locking ring 71 when displaced laterally by the eccentrically formed cylindrical surface on the lower portion of the lock sleeve 74, as shown in FIGURE 6, will be` disposed in the annular recess below the downwardly facing lock shoulder 77 formed by the lower end of the length of tubing above the nipple, whereby the carrier and locking mechanism is securely anchored against upward displacement.

The device is lowered into the `well in the same manner as the form first described, and upon downward movement of the carrier being stopped by the engagement of the shoulder 40 with the upwardly facing stop shoulder 81 in the nipple, the locking ring 71 may move downwardly longitudinally on the lock sleeve 74 and will be displaced laterally by the eccentric cylindrical lock surface 75 on the lower portion of the lock sleeve into position to engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 77 formed by the lower end of the length of tubing above the nipple. The carrier and locking device is then anchored in place in the landing and sealing nipple.

The carrier and locking device C may be removed from the locking and sealing nipple by engagement of a retrieving tool 60 in the manner already described, the hooks 62 of the retrieving tool engaging under the retrieving iiange 36 at the upper end of the lock sleeve 74, whereupon the shear pins 35 are sheared and the lock sleeve 74 moved upwardly on the mandrel 26. Such upward movement of the lock sleeve 74 lifts the eccentric cylindrical lock surface 75 out of the bore 72 of the lock ring, whereby the lock ring may move laterally on the supporting shoulder 39 to a centered position in which it will pass the downwardly facing stop shoulder 77 whereby the device may be lifted from the well flow conductor or tubing in the manner already described.

It will thus be seen that this modified form of the device is essentially the same in structure and operation as the form first described, but instead `of having the bore of the locking ring eccentrically disposed in said locking ring, the locking ring is provided with a concentric axial bore and the cylindrical locking surface of the lock sleeve is eccentrically disposed on the lock sleeve to cause lateral movement of the lock ring to locking position. All other structure and operation of the device remains the same as the form first described.

Obviously, it is readily apparent that the spring 38 may be omitted from the carrier and locking device and the weight of the locking ring may be relied upon to cause the ring to move downwardly relative to the lock sleeve to position the ring on the lock surface of the lock sleeve in locking position. Such a carrier and locking device is shown in FIGURE 8, wherein the ring 33 having the eccentric bore 34 therethrough is mounted on a lock sleeve having the external cylindrical lock surface 142 on its lower end and provided with the external annular groove 132 above said lock surface. An external annular flange 131 is formed on the locking sleeve 130 just above the annular groove 132 for retaining the locking ring in place on the sleeve. Thus, the movement of the locking ring is limited by the upwardly facing supporting shoulder 39 and the downwardly facing shoulder on the under side of the external annular fiange 131 on the lock sleeve. Movement of the ring downwardly on the lock sleeve is dependent upon the weight of the ring. Obviously, upward movement of the ring caused by engagement of the ring with obstructions in the well flow conductor as the device is lowered into the tubing will move the same upwardly into engagement with the downwardly facing shoulder at the lower end of the flange 131, where the ring may move laterally in the groove 132 to pass any such obstruction. However, upon the engagement of the downwardly facing stop shoulder 40 on the body with the upwardly facing stop shoulder 23 in the landing nipple, the ring may move downwardly on the lock sleeve into locking position, the external cylindrical lock surface 142 on the lock sleeve displacing the ring laterally so that the beveled lock shoulder 45 at the upper edge of the ring is positioned to engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 22 in the landing nipple to lock the device in place. Obviously, the lock sleeve may be moved upwardly by shearing the rivets 35 in the manner already described to draw the external cylindrical lock surface 142 upwardly out of the bore 34 of the locking ring and permit the ring to move laterally to a non-locking position, whereby the carrier and locking device may be withdrawn from locked position in the landing nipple and thus upwardly and out of the well iiow conductor.

A further modification C" of the anchoring and locking device is illustrated in FIGURES 9 to 1l, wherein the locking member is formed ot two laterally slidable ring segments. As clearly shown in FIGURE l1, each ring segment has .a cylindrical segmental body portion 90 and a longitudinally extending T-shaped retaining lug or arm 92 projecting from the abutting end portions of the rings and adapted to engage in correspondingly T-shaped radially extending slots 93 formed in the opposite side of the other :ring segment of the locking member. The eccentric bore 91 of each ring segment is disposed nearer the slot side of the segment and is adapted to be engaged by an external cylindrical lock surface 97 on the lower end of a lock sleeve 98 slidable on the mandrel 99 of the carrier `'and locking device. The l-ock sleeve has an external annular stop flange 190 which is adapted t-o engage the upper ends of the ring ysegments of the lock member to limit downward movement of the sleeve on the mandrel with respect to the lock member. Obviously, when the lock surface 97 is positioned in the eccentric 'bo-res 91 of the ring segments, the said ring segments are displaced laterally in opposite directions into position to engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 22 in the landing nipple 15.

The carrier and locking device is lowered into the nipple by means of a running tool which has shear pins extending into apertures 1111 formed in the retrieving iiange 102 Iat the upper end of the lock sleeve. When the Stop shoulder 103 of the carrier engages the upwardly facing stop shoulder 23 at the lower end of the locking groove -21 in the landing nipple, further downward movement of the carrier is prevented and the lock sleeve I9S is then moved downwardly relative to the locking ring segments 90, and the beveled lower end 96 of the lock sleeve enters the eccentric bores 91 of the ring segments and moves the same laterally into the locking recess. The external cylindrical locking surface 97 is then positioned in the bores .of the lock ring segments to positively hold the same in expanded position and prevent upward displacement of the carrier and locking device out of the landing nipple.

To remove the carrier and locking device from locked position, a retrieving tool 60 is engaged with the retrieving flange 102 at the upper end of the lock sleeve and Ian upward pull applied thereto, whereupon the sleeve is moved upwardly and the external cylindrical lock surface 97 is moved upwardly out of the bore of the locking ring segments, whereupon the segments may move laterally to retracted positions. Upon engagement of the upper end of the lock sleeve 98 with the head 104 at the upper end of the mandrel 99, the carrier will be lifted .and the beveled upper ends of the locking ring segments will engage the tapered `lock shoulder 22 and cam the segments inwardly to permit the device to be removed Iupwardly out of the lan-ding nipple.

A still further modification of the carrier and locking device, C" is illustrated in FIGURES l2 yand v13, wherein the body 110 has an elongate neck or inner mandrel 111 axially aligned with and extending upwardly from the upper end of the body, 'both body and mandrel being provided with aligned axial-ly extending bores providing a flow passage thro-ugh the carrier and locking device. An elongate locking sleeve 112 is lslidable longitudinally on the mandrel 111, and is confined thereon between the upwardly facing shoulder 113 at the upper end of the lbody 110 and an external annular flange or hea-d 114 at the upper end of the ma-ndrel. The length of the mandrel is lsuch that the locking sleeve 112 may undergo a limited |longitudinal movement thereon for the purpose of moving into and out of locking position with respect to an elongate locking key ring 115, also slidably mounted on the mandrel 111 and having an eccentrically positioned bore 116 into which the lower end of the locking sleeve 112 is slidable. The lockin-g key ring is fonmed with a pair of longitudinally spaced bosses 117 and 118 on one portion of its periphery and a longitudinally extending slot 119 in its wall diametrically opposed to the bosses. A

guide rib 12b is formed on the exterior of the locking sleeve 112 projecting downwardly from an external annular flange 121 at the lower end of said sleeve. A pair of locking pron-gs 122 depend from the under side of the flange 121 at a point diametrically opposed to the key 120, and these ribs are .adapted to engage the inner bore wall of the locking key ring behind the bosses 117 to hold the locking key rin-g in `a laterally displaced position with the bosses projecting. A spring 125, formed of a wire bent upon itself at its mid-point to form a pair of substantially C-shaped runs, has its free ends mounted in suitable apertures in the inner wal-l of the l-ocking key ring 115 and engages lthe outer 4periphery of the mandrel 111 to bias the key rin-g to a position in which the `bosses are projecting laterally. This spring is adapted to ride in the Space between the bifurcated prongs 122, as clearly shown in FIGURE 13.

The carrier and locking device is adapted to seat and lock in sealing position in a landing and sealing nipple 13), having means such as the external screw threads 131 at its yopposite ends for connecting it in Ia well iiow conductor. An internal locking and positioning groove is formed in the bore wall of the nipple, and has intermediate its ends an inwardly projecting annular stop flange 136, the upper face of which i-s substantially horizontal to provide .an abrupt upwardly facing stop shoulder 137 against which the downwardly facing substantially horizontal stop shoulder 138 at the lower end of the upper boss 117 of the locking key ring is adapted to engage to limit downward movement of the carrier and locking device in the well flow conductor. The conguration of the locking ygroove 135 and flange 136 therein correspond substantially to the configuration of the bosses 117 and 11S formed on the locking key ring 115. Thus, when the bosses on said locking key ring are engaged in said groove in the manner shown in FIGURE l2, the engagement of the shoulder 138 on the locking key ring with the stop shoulder 137 in the groofve prevents further downward movement of the ycarrier and locking device, While the engagement of the beveled :shoulder at the upper end of each of the bosses 117 and 118 with the corresponding beveled shoulders in the groove 135 prevents upward movement of lthe carrier and locking device out of the landing nipple when the bifurcated locking pron-gs y122 are positioned to engage the reduced lower portion .140 of the bore of the locking key ring in the manner shown in FIGURE 12. However, when the locking :sleeve 112 is moved upwardly on the mandrel 111, the bifurcated locking legs or prongs 122 will be moved upwardly in the bore of the locking key ring to a position above the reduc-ed bore 141B, and the locking key ring :may move laterally with respect to the mandrel and body to permit the beveled shoulders at the upper ends of the bosses to cam said locking key ring inwardly and permit the bosses to pass the locking shoulders 144 and 145 in the locking groove of the landing nipple. Furthermore, the beveled surfaces at the upper end of the bosses will likewise cam the bosses toward a retracted position as the ycarrier and locking device is lifted through the well bore to permit the bosses to pass other obstructions encoun- .tered in `such movement. The boss 118 at the lower end of the locking key .ring is positioned to .prevent engagement of the shoulder 138 with `any other obstruction in the well pipe or .now conductor until a locking groove 135 havin-g a conguration conforming .to the configuration of .the bosses is encountered, whereupon the shoulder 138 on the locking key ring will engage the stop shoulder 137 in the groove to limit further downward movement of the device in the well.

This form of the carrier and locking device may be inserted and removed in the same manner as the for-m last described. This form, however, has the stop shoulfder for limiting downward movement of the device formed on the locking key ring, whereby the bore of the weil flow conductor may be without restrictions formed therein throughout its length. The locking recess 135 having .a configuration conforming to that of the bosses of ythe locking sleeve is of greater longitudinal dimens-ion than that of any recess likely to be encountered in the ow conductor thereabove, so that the device will n-ot be stopped until the bosses on the locking key ring have entered the groove 135. Obviously, the length of the upper boss 117 may be increased or diminished to provide for stopping the device at other positions in the well, in the manner ydescribed in the patent to I. A. Miller, 2,673,614, issued Manch 30, 1954.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an improved locking mechanism has been disclosed which is adapted to be lowered into a well flow conductor and locked in place therein for supporting a well device in the well. The locking mechanism is simple in structure and positive in actuation and may be released from locking position by a straight upward pull on the device, whereby retrieving devices operated in response to fluid pressure from within the well may be connected to the device by means of a suitable retrieving tool and pressure applied to the retrieving device to ow the same upwardly out of the well Without the necessity of using a flexible line or cable or other mechanical means operable from the well surface, though such means may be used.

It will particularly be noted that the locking structure is simple and positive in operation, formed of few parts, economical to manufacture and simple to install and remove.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the constructions illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well tool including: an elongate mandrel; a sleeve slidable a limited distance longitudinally on said mandrel; a pair of annular locking members each having a bore disposed eccentrically with respect to its longitudinal axis and mounted slidably on said mandrel for longitudinal and lateral movement thereon, said locking members also being slidable on said sleeve; means on said sleeve and means on said mandrel limiting the longitudinal movement of said locking members thereon; said sleeve having an enlarged concentric locking surface thereon on its lower portion, said locking surface being engageable in the eccentric bores of the locking members to hold said members in laterally projecting locking positions.

2. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 1, wherein: the locking members are formed with means providing for holding said members in positions in which the centers of their eccentric bores are disposed for lateral movement only to opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the locking sleeve, whereby said members are caused to project on opposite sides of the mandrel when in locking position.

3. A well tool including: an elongate mandrel; a sleeve slidable a limited distance longitudinally on said mandrel; a pair of locking members forming an annular locking means, each of said locking members having a bore disposed eccentrically with respect to its external periphery and mounted slidably on said mandrel for longitudinal and lateral movement thereon, said locking members also being slidable longitudinally on said sleeve; external flange means on said sleeve and shoulder means on said mandrel spaced from said flange means on said sleeve, said shoulder means and said ange means being engageable with said locking members for limiting the longitudinal movement of said locking members on said mandrel; said sleeve having an enlarged concentric lock surface thereon on its lower portion below said flange means, said lock surface being engageable in the eccentric bores of the locking members to hold said members in laterally projecting locking positions.

4. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 3,

wherein the locking members are formed with means providing for holding said members in positions in which the centers of their eccentric bores are disposed for lateral movement to opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, whereby said members are caused to project on opposite sides of the mandrel when in locking position.

5. A well tool including: an elongate tubular mandrel having an external annular ange intermediate its ends providing a downwardlyv facing shoulder, the external diameter of the mandrel above said shoulder being reduced to form an upwardly facing shoulder and an elongate cylindrical stem portion thereabove having an enlarged head at its upper end; a lock sleeve slidable on said mandrel between said head and said upwardly facing shoulder, said lock sleeve having an external lock surface formed thereon and an enlarged external annular ange above said lock surface; annular locking means slidable longitudinally of said mandrel between said external annular ange of said lock sleeve and the upwardly facing shoulder of said mandrel, said external lock surface of said lock sleeve being receivable within the bore of said annular locking means, one of the external periphery of said annular locking means and said external lock surface of said lock sleeve being disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of said mandrel when said lock sleeve is positioned with the lock surface disposed in the bore of said annular locking means, whereby the locking means is held displaced laterally with a portion of the external periphery thereof in a laterally projecting position, said lock sleeve having means thereon engageable with the annular locking means for positive displacement of said annular locking means to said laterally projecting position upon longitudinal downward movement of said lock sleeve on said mandrel, said annular locking means being slidable laterally of said mandrel on the upwardly facing shoulder thereon at the lower end of said stem; said annular locking means comprising a pair of members each having a bore therethrough, said members being axially overlapping and laterally slidable with respect to each other to project laterally of said mandrel.

6. A well tool including: an elongate mandrel; a lock sleeve mounted on said mandrel and slidable longitudinally thereon, said lock sleeve having an external lock surface on its lower end portion; locking means having a substantially cylindrical external surface and a longitudinal lock bore therethrough of a size to receive and be engaged by the lock surface of said lock sleeve; an upwardly facing shoulder on said mandrel having an external cylindrical surface concentric with the longitudinal axis of said mandrel; said lock sleeve having an external downwardly facing stop shoulder above said lock surface on said lock sleeve; longitudinal movement of said locking means relative to said lock sleeve and mandrel being limited by engagement with said shoulders, said locking means being movable laterally of said mandrel and sleeve when said lock surface of said sleeve is not engaged in said lock bore of said locking means; said locking means and said sleeve being movable longitudinally relative to each other to position said lock surface of said lock sleeve in said lock bore of said locking means; said locking means when so engaged with said lock surface being disposed with its substantially cylindrical external surface positioned eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel so as to project laterally beyond the cylindrical external surface of the mandrel stop shoulder; said annular locking means comprising a pair of locking members each having a bore disposed eccentrically with respect to its external periphery and mounted slidably on said mandrel for longitudinal and lateral movement thereon and adapted to receive in their bores the lock surface of said lock sleeve.

7. A well tool including: an elongate mandrel; a lock sleeve mounted on said mandrel and slidable longitudinally thereon, said lock sleeve having an external locking surface on its lower end portion; locking means having a substantially cylindrical external surface and a longitudinal lock bore therethrough of a size to receive and be engaged by the lock -surface of said lock sleeve; an upwardly facing shoulder on said mandrel having an external cylindrical surface concentric with the longitudinal axis of said mandrel; said lock sleeve having an external downwardly facing stop shoulder above said lock surface on said lock sleeve; longitudinal movement of said locking means relative to said lock sleeve and mandrel being limited by engagement With said shoulders, said locking means being movable laterally of said mandrel and sleeve When said lock surface of said sleeve is not engaged in said lock bore of said locking means; and locking means and said sleeve being movable longitudinally relative to each other to position said lock surface of said lock sleeve in said lock bore of said locking means; said locking means when so engaged with said lock surface being disposed With its substantially cylindrical external surface positioned eccentrically With respect to the longitudinal aXis of the mandrel so as to project laterally beyond the cylindrical external surface of the mandrel stop shoulder; said lock sleeve being engageable in the lock bore of said locking means to hold said locking means disposed in such eccentric locking position when said sleeve is in its lowermost position on said mandrel; said annular locking means comprising a pair of locking members each having a bore disposed eccentrically With respect to its external periphery and mounted slidably on said mandrel for longitudinal and lateral movement thereon and adapted to receive in their bores the lock surface of said lock sleeve; and means provided on each of said locking members engageable with the other of said members for holding said members in positions in which the centers of their eccentric bores are disposed for lateral movement to opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the sleeve whereby said members are caused to project on opposite sides of the mandrel when in locking position with the lock surface of said sleeve engaged in said bore.

Reterences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,074,485 l/63 McGoWen 166-217 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WELL TOOL INCLUDING: AN ELONGATED MANDREL; A SLEEVE SLIDABLE A LIMITED DISTANCE LONGITUDINALLY ON SAID MANDREL; A PAIR OF ANNULAR LOCKING MEMBERS EACH HAVING A BORE DISPOSED ECCENTRICALLY WITH RESPECT TO ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND MOUNTED SLIDABLY ON SAID MANDREL FOR LONGITUDINAL AND LATERAL MOVEMENT THEREON, SAID LOCKING MEMBERS ALSO BEING SLIDABLE ON SAID SLEEVE; MEANS ON SAID SLEEVE AND MEANS ON SAID MANDREL LIMITING THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCKING MEMBERS THEREON; SAID SLEEVE HAVING AN ENLARGED CONCENTRIC LOCKING SURFACE THEREON ON ITS LOWER PORTION, SAID LOCKING SURFACE BEING ENGAGEABLE IN THE ECCENTRIC BORES OF THE LOCKING MEMBERS TO HOLD SAID MEMBERS IN LATERALLY PROJECTING LOCKING POSITIONS. 